Rejected By My Mate; Loved By His Brother

Elena’s POV I balanced the tray of steaming coffee carefully in my hands as I ascended the grand staircase to Damien’s room. At his door, I knocked softly. No response. I tried again, firmer this time. “Stop knocking and just get in!” Damien’s irritated voice snapped from inside. My heart pounded as I hesitated, then I pushed the door open and stepped inside quietly. I barely had time to close it before I was met with an all-too-familiar sight—Damien on the bed, entangled in a heated kiss with a blonde girl. They were so engrossed that they didn’t even acknowledge my presence. I swallowed the sharp sting of disappointment, quickly averting my gaze as I placed the tray on the nearby table. This wasn’t the first time I had walked in on Damien, the Alpha’s eldest son, in such a situation. And yet, every time, a painful ache settled in my chest. I had no right to feel this way—I was just a maid. But no matter how much I reminded myself, my heart stubbornly refused to listen. Turning on my heel, I made my way to the door, hoping to slip out unnoticed—or so I thought. “Wait.” The command froze me in place. I heard the rustling of sheets, then footsteps approaching. When I turned back, Damien stood in front of me, wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung sweatpants. My gaze unintentionally flickered downward before I caught myself and quickly looked away, heat rushing to my face. He grabbed the coffee from the tray, took a sip, then scowled. “Did you put sugar in this?” My stomach sank. I bit my lower lip hard. s**t, I had done it again. Damien despised sugar in his coffee, but Dante, his twin brother, preferred it that way. “I—I’m sorry. I’ll get you another one,” I stammered, flinching as Damien ran a frustrated hand through his messy black hair. “You’ve been serving us since childhood, and you still mix up our coffee?” he growled. “I didn’t mean to—” “Just get out,” he snapped without listening to what I was about to say, just like always. Biting my lip, I grabbed the tray and rushed out of the room. Once outside, I took a deep breath, steadying my emotions before heading downstairs. As I passed by the open doorway of the library, I paused. Inside, Dante sat in a leather chair, flipping through a thick book. His dark brows were slightly furrowed, his expression calm yet deeply focused on what he was doing. Sensing my presence, he glanced up and smiled. “Elena, come here.” I hesitated, but the warmth in his voice pulled me forward. As I neared, I caught a glimpse of the title—an old history book about past Alpha reigns. “Studying again?” I asked softly. Dante chuckled. “Something like that. Unlike my dear brother, I actually enjoy using my brain.” He closed the book and leaned back, his sharp gaze flickering to the coffee in my hands. “That for me?” Before I could stop him, he had already taken the cup and sipped. A knowing look crossed his face. “Wait… was this for Damien?” He smirked, shaking his head. “You mixed them up again, didn’t you?” I let out a nervous laugh. “Seems like it,” I said with a sigh. Dante and Damien were complete opposites. While Damien treated me as nothing more than a servant, and his maid since birth, Dante was always kind, always treating me like a person—sometimes even like a friend. Dante leaned against the armrest of the chair, watching me. “You know, you should stop caring so much about what Damien thinks,” he said lightly. I forced a small smile. “It’s my job to make sure he’s happy,” I said with a smile I usually don't wear when I am around Damien. Dante sighed. “You deserve better than this, Elena. You’re more than just a maid.” I looked away. “I know my place.” Dante’s eyes softened as he stepped closer, his fingers brushing lightly against my arm. The touch sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. “I see you, Elena,” he murmured. His hand lifted gently to cup my cheek, his thumb tracing my skin. “More than you realize.” My breath hitched. The intensity in his gaze made me feel as if the walls were closing in. “You’re just teasing me,” I whispered, though my heart pounded wildly. Dante smirked, his thumb now grazing my lower lip. “Do I look like I’m teasing?” His voice was low, almost husky. I couldn’t respond. I could only stare, captivated by the way he was looking at me. Then, just as suddenly, he stepped back, the moment slipping away like sand through my fingers. He handed me back the coffee with a smirk. “Thanks for the drink. Close the door on your way out.” I turned to leave, but before I could step out, his voice called me back. “You look beautiful today,” he said, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Just like always.” A flush crept up my neck as I quickly closed the door behind me. If it was Damien that had said those words to me, I knew I wouldn’t have been able to sleep that night.